How do we open .ost file?

[Guest]

Hi all,

When I download email from the exchange server to local client computer, the
file name changed to .ost instead of .pst. Would someone help me how to open
this file?

Your reply will be highly appreciated.

Michael Tang

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

Hi all,

When I download email from the exchange server to local client
computer, the file name changed to .ost instead of .pst. Would
someone help me how to open this file?

You don't - the OST file is a mirrored copy of your Exchange server. When
you sync, data is copied from the mailbox/public folders/offline address
book to the OST file so you can work offline. You can't use it once it's
been 'orphaned'.

What problems are you having, and what is your goal?

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

Whoops - it's a mirrored copy of your Exchange *mailbox*. Not the whole
server, of course.

 

[Guest]

Many thanks, Lanwench,

The problem I have is when I change the user account from Exchange server to
POP3, about 100MB emails from the exchange server disappeared, then later I
fould .ost file in the outlook of user profile at the local computer.
Normally, these emails should go into personal folder, .pst file. But right
now I cannot see these emails in the Microsoft Outlook. What should I do?

Best regards

Michael Tang

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

Many thanks, Lanwench,

The problem I have is when I change the user account from Exchange
server to POP3, about 100MB emails from the exchange server
disappeared, then later I fould .ost file in the outlook of user
profile at the local computer. Normally, these emails should go into
personal folder, .pst file. But right now I cannot see these emails
in the Microsoft Outlook. What should I do?

Do you still have access to the mailbox? If so, what you really want to do
is export it to a PST file and use that PST file for delivery on the POP
client. If you have an orphaned OST file, it can be expensive to recover
data from it.